Adjustable frictional support for piano-desks, &amp;c.



No. 760,831. PATBNTED MAY 24, 1904...

P. H. WHITE & s. W. RORK.

ADJUSTABLE PRICTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PIANO D'ESKS,.&o.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 29, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHET8SHE-ET 1.

l blnesses:

7 claim.

7 UNITED ST TES Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT: "OFFICE.

FRED H. WHITE, OF EASTON, AND SAMUEL w. RORK, OF B s'rON, MASSA- cH sErrs,.;AssIeNoRs TO OHIOKERING & 'sONs, OEBOSTON, MASSA- GHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

I ADJUSTABLE FRICTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PlANO-iDESKS, 80o.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.760,831, dated May 24, 1904. Application filed June 29, 1903. 5 Serial K031613510. (No model.)

To all whom; 2125 may concern:

Be it known that we, FRED H. WHITE, re-= siding at Easton, in the county of Bristol, and SAMUEL W. RORK, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Frictional Supports for Piano- Desks, &c., of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to the movable desk or front piece forming-a part of the casing of an upright piano, said desk filling the opening in the casing above the: keyboard andbeing adjustable so that it can be swung outwardly more or less to vary the volume of tone due to the vibration of the strings of the piano. I

The invention has for its object to provide a simple and effective frictional support adapted to hold the desk by friction at various angles,-so that it may be drawn outwardly to any desired extent from its-closed position, and thus form an openingof any desired area.

The invention consists in the improvements which we will now proceed to describe and Of the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, Flgure 1 represents an edge view of our improved frictional support. Figs. 2 and 3 represent opposite side views of the same. Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4 4 of Fig- 2. -Fig. 5 represents a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the adjustable portion of the support in a different position. Fig. 6 represents a section, on line 6 6 of Fig. Figs. 7,. 8; and 9 represent: side views of the chief'parts of the support de -tached. Fig. 10 represents a section online 1() 10of Fig. 8. Fig. 11' represents asection on line 11 11 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 represents a front view of a portion of an upright piano the desk of which is provided with supports one of the vertical end pieces or uprights of the;casing. 6 represents the desk, which fills the space at the front of the casing bounded by the top, end pieces, and-the horizontal portion immediately above the keyboard, said desk being interposed between the strings and hammer mechanism of the instrument and the space infront" of the instrument. The desk is hinged on jointed to the uprights a a, the hinge connection being usually near the upper edge of the desk, so that its lower portion can be swung outwardly toward the front of the instrument. In the construction here represented the desk is hinged to the uprights by means of pins or dowels 0, one at each end of the desk. In carrying out our invention we secure to the end portions of the desk at points below the hinge-pins or dowels ctwo sets of adjustable frictional' supports constructed as hereinafter described,'there being one of said supports at each end of the desk, each being located at the inner side of thedesk and arranged to cooperate with a fixed stud d, projecting "inwardly from one of the uprights 0;.

The adjustable frictional support of our invention comprises a holdere, formed as an ear adapted to be attached to the inner side of the desk, the ears being here shownas provided with a flange 6, having holes for the reception of attaching-screws. When the ear is attached to the desk, it projects inwardly therefrom, as indicated in Fig. 13. w

f represents a resilient plate, preferably constructedof tempered sheet-steel, said'plate being provided: on one side with teeth f f whichare preferably formed by strikingup portions of the metal of the plate so as to form a narrow elongated recess upon one side and a correspondingly-formed ridge or projection upon the opposite side.

' g represents an arm having a hub portion g, which is interposed between the ear 0 and plate f and is provided with a plurality -of slots 9 each adapted to engage 'one of posed between the ear 6 and plate f, and said parts are connected in such manner that the ear and plate exert a frictional binding pressure upon the hub portion of the arm, said pressure being sufficient to retain the arm at various angles, the arm being pivoted to the ear, so that it can be swung thereon. In this embodiment of our invention the ear, plate, and hub are connected by means of a rivet h, which is passed through the said parts and has at one end a headed bearing upon the outer side of the plate f, its other end being upset upon the outer side of the ear 6. The plate f is secured to the ear c in such manner that it is prevented from rotating by means of a pin '5, which is aflixed to the ear near the margin thereof and extends across the hub portion g and is engaged with the plate f by entering a recess c", Fig. 9, formed in the margin of said plate. The plate f is thus prevented from rotating, and its teeth f are therefore held in the proper positions to engage the slots 9 The hub portion g is provided with a recess to accommodate the pin 6, the ends g g of said recess constituting stopshoulders which cooperate with the pin 6 in limiting the swinging movement of the arm g. The outer portion of the arm 9 is provided with a slot or recess 8, which receives one of the fixed studs d, the arm being preferably provided with wings or flanges g which form relatively wide sides of the slot 8 and prevent the contact of the arm with the stud d from cutting into or wearing the latter.

When the desk 6 is closed, as shown in full lines in Fig. 13, the arm 9 projects downwardly in a substantially vertical position from the ear (2 and is yieldingly locked in this position by the engagement of the teeth f f with two of the slots g as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, the locking engagement thus eflected being such that the desk cannot be moved outwardly except by the application of sufficient force to spring the tooth-carrying portions of the plate f outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 6, thus permitting the teeth f to bear upon the flat side of the hub portion g between the slots g therein, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. The outward swinging movement of'the desk causes the arm g to swing correspondingly on the ear, owing to its engagement with the stud cl. The outward swinging movement of the desk is limited by the contact of the stoppin 2' with one of the shoulders g the desk being then in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 13. When the desk is in this position, the teeth f engage the other two slots in the hub portion, so that the desk is yieldingly locked in its outward position. Provision is thus made for yieldingly locking the desk in two positionsviz., its closed and its extreme open position. It will be seen, however, that the pressure of the teeth f upon the side of the hub portion g when the arm and desk are in an intermediate position is sufficient to yieldingly retain the arm and desk in any position between the two. Fig. 18.)

In case the desk is relatively light the teeth f and slots maybe dispensed with, the binding pressure of the ear (2 and platef against the sides of the hub portion being sufiicicnt to retain the desk in any position to which it may be adjusted.

It will be seen that the described supporting device is of extremely simple and durable construction, it having but three parts in addition to the rivet h and pin 7', all these parts being adapted to be quickly and economically formed by dies from sheet metal.

It is obvious that the device may be used for other purposes, its use not being limited to a support for the desk of a piano-casing.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 12 that the ear or holder a, resilient plate f, and arm 9 are located wholly behind the desk and that the stud (Z is afiixed to the casing back of the opening and projects behind the desk. This arrangement of parts obviates the necessity of providing between the end of the desk and the corresponding portion of the casing an opening or crevice of sufficient width to receive the arm 9. The end of the desk can therefore be arranged practically in rubbing contact with the fixed casing a.

We claim 1'. An adjustable frictional support comprising a holder adapted for attachment to the part to be supported, a resilient plate connected with the holder, means for preventing the plate from turning or rotating on the holder, and a swinging arm interposed between the holder and plate and frictionally held thereby, said arm being formed to engage a fixed support.

2. An adjustable frictional support comprising a holder adapted for attachment to the part to be supported, a resilient plate connected with the holder, means for preventing the plate from turning or rotating on the holder, and a swinging arm interposedv between the holder and plate and frictionally held thereby, said arm being formed to engage a fixed support, the said arm and plate having complemental locking members, the member or members on the plate being pressed yieldingly against the arm by the resilience of the plate. ,7

3. An adjustable frictional support comprising a holder adapted for attachment to the part to be supported, a resilient plate located beside the holder, a swinging arm interposed between the holder and plate, a rivet engaging the central portions of the holder and plate to bind the same together and hold them in frictional contact with the arm, said rivet constituting the axis on which the arm swings, and a stud connecting the marginal portions of the holder and plate and preventing the plate from moving with the arm.

4. An adjustable frictional support com- (Shown in prising, first,a holder formed asanear or bracket adapted for attachment to the part to be supported; secondly, a resilient plate havinterposed between the said ear and plate and provided with slots to engage said teeth, the said ear and plate being connected to prevent rotation of the plate and to exert a yielding frictional hold on the interposed hub portion of the arm.

' 5. An adjustable frictional support comprising a holder formed as an ear or bracket adapted forattachment to the part to be supported, a resilient plate having inwardly-projecting teeth, an arm having a slotted outer portion formed to engage a fixed support, and

a hub portion interposed between the ear and plate and provided with slots arranged to en gage said teeth and with a pair of stop members, a rivet securing said parts together and holding the ear and plate in frictional engagement with the said hub portion, and a stoppin engaged with said ear and plate and preventing rotation of the plate, said pin being interposed between the stop members of the hub portion. I

In testimony whereof we have afiixed our signatures'in presence of two witnesses.

FRED H. WHITE. SAMUEL W. RORK. 

